Ch.25Chapter 25: Entrance Exam (2)

Next is the 10km long-distance run.

Balt’s record is 18 minutes and 50 seconds.

Barbarians don’t tire easily.

If they did, they wouldn’t have survived in the barren south with such large bodies.

It means their massive muscles have incredible efficiency.

“What the… what is this? What am I even looking at?”

***

Next is the strength test.

It’s similar to weightlifting.

You must lift the weight above your head and hold it for 3 seconds using any method for it to count.

Balt begins loading all the available weights onto the magically enchanted barbell.

People who see this start murmuring.

“That person… what is he doing?”

“D-don’t you know? Does he want to be crushed to death?”

After loading all the weights, Balt lifts the barbell with one hand.

Everyone’s jaws drop at the sight.

“W-what!? Isn’t he using magic?”

“B-but he has magic sealing devices on his arms!”

Whoosh!

On top of that, Balt casually spins the barbell around.

“H-he spun it? Did he just spin that thing?”

Thud!

Balt gently puts down the barbell and says one thing.

“Light.”

The examiner speaks with an incredulous expression.

“P-participant! Just a moment! I need to check your magic sealing device.”

But no matter how carefully the examiner inspects, the sealing device is functioning normally.

Eventually, the examiner officially recognizes Balt’s record.

“…Participant #99, Balt Geruntu… record 2,000kg.”

It’s the highest record so far. And with just one hand.

The perfect score for an average Central Continent human is 300kg.

But almost no one achieves a perfect score on this strength test.

Most Central Continent people focus on training their aura and magic power rather than pushing their bodies to the limit.

Only someone like Victor or Robin might come close to a perfect score.

The reason Balt only(?) lifted 2 tons was because there weren’t any more weights available.

Since he already received a perfect score, there was no need to bring weights from elsewhere, so the evaluator moved Balt on to the next event.

***

Agility test.

You must use your body in any way to hit and burst rapidly approaching magic spheres.

Naturally, the magic spheres come at a rate that would be impossible to burst all of them with just a normal body.

The key is how many you can burst.

But Balt doesn’t have an ordinary body.

Moreover, barbarians have sharp instincts and senses.

Pop-pop-pop-pop!

As expected, he hits all the magic spheres for another perfect score.

***

Physical endurance test.

You need to withstand as many hits as possible from heavy magic spheres being fired at you.

Someone with a mage’s physique would retire after just one hit.

Athletes, knights, or martial artists might take 3-5 hits.

Balt? After receiving the 100th magic sphere, the examiner forcibly ends the test.

“Enough! Enough! Any more is meaningless!”

Balt continued to demonstrate abilities far beyond normal human limits in all subsequent tests.

***

In the temporary observation room monitoring the students’ tests.

Several large crystal orbs allow viewers to watch the ongoing test events.

A muscular man with a lush beard, unlike his shiny head, exclaims:

“What on earth is that barbarian? Is that what barbarians are really like?”

The speaker is Tobias Perch, the Academy’s combat arts professor from the 7th Floor, a martial artist.

He’s watching Balt with incredibly sparkling eyes.

The professor seated at the head position responds to Tobias’s comment.

Marcel Albert, the first-year homeroom professor who teaches practical tactics and military strategy.

A former Imperial Army officer and 8th Floor Spear Master.

Though called a spear master, being a military man, his main weapon isn’t an ordinary spear but a massive lance.

“How would I know… I was stationed on the eastern front when I was in the military, so I’ve only heard rumors. Never seen one before. No wonder the Empire tried to avoid friction with them whenever possible.”

“But still… such records have never been seen in Academy history. He’s not even using magic power, just his bare body! Bare body! Magnificent!”

The professors gathered here are all formidable in their own right.

They’ve simply chosen to dedicate the rest of their lives to nurturing the next generation.

Of course, Riman is among them.

“Hehehe, just watch. That’s simply a monster. A monster.”

All the professors couldn’t hide their amazement at the extraordinary physical abilities they’d never witnessed before.

“What a shame! If only he weren’t a barbarian! He probably doesn’t have any magic power!”

It’s natural they can’t sense magic power just by watching through crystal orbs.

When Tobias expresses his regret, Riman says with a smile:

“That kid has magic power.”

“What? A barbarian? Professor Riman, how do you know that?”

Riman shrugs and says:

“I’ve already fought him once. He’s a special case, that one.”

At this, both Professors Tobias and Marcel’s eyes light up.

“In that case…!”

“Huh? Professors? I’ve already claimed that kid!”

“There’s no such thing! Educational opportunities at Grovint should be distributed fairly!”

“What you’re doing right now is already unfair!”

“A-ahem!”

Balt’s superior physical abilities have ignited the professors’ passion for teaching.

People whose joy in life is watching promising buds bloom into beautiful flowers.

For them, race, nation, and status don’t matter.

They’re strange people whose only goal is to teach students with exceptional talent.

Though of course, not everyone is like that.

A female professor who had been listening quietly asks Riman:

Janet Koel, a magic professor and High Wizard specializing in 7th Circle fire magic.

“A barbarian with magic power? How interesting… What type is it? Aura? Or Circle?”

To Janet’s question, Professor Tobias exclaims as if it’s obvious:

“Of course it’s aura! What else could dwell in that body!”

“I’m afraid it’s magic power. And it seems he’s even formed a circle recently.”

“What? Magic power? Circle? A mage? A barbarian?”

Everyone’s mood dampens at Riman’s words.

“Well… with a physique comparable to Floor 3 or even Floor 4, and he’s a mage… what a waste. Such a waste.”

As the aura-focused professors’ interest wanes, the magic professors’ eyes fill with curiosity.

“Hmm~ A barbarian mage.”

***

While everyone was amazed, Balt wasn’t first in everything.

Clearly, in short-distance sprints, beastkin and the elf Arias were faster than Balt, and even dwarves slightly outpaced him in the 10km run.

The red-haired dragonkin also lifted 2 tons, though with both hands.

But when considering all physical abilities comprehensively, Balt was undoubtedly dominant.

Balt thus completed all the physical ability tests and finished the first day of exams.

He felt great satisfaction, believing he had properly made up for his poor performance on the written test.

***

On the way back with Victor and Robin.

A voice calls out to Balt from behind.

“Balt! Baaalt!!”

A familiar voice.

Lisa.

Turning around, he sees Lisa walking with Arias and an unfamiliar woman.

“Oh? Is this your girlfriend, brother? She’s cute!”

“Just a friend. Sometimes helpful, sometimes troublesome.”

Robin, who had been quiet, adds:

“An elf? I’ve always wanted to meet one.”

Judging by his expression, it’s not because she’s pretty, but probably because of archery.

Lisa runs up to Balt like an excited puppy and praises him with an incredible expression.

For some reason, Arias and the unknown girl are running along with her.

“Balt is always so easy to find! But wow, Balt, you’re amazing!! I knew you were great, but I didn’t know you’d be this overwhelming!!”

“Did you see? Though Arias was faster in running. I was honestly surprised.”

“Of course I saw! Everyone was staring at you today!”

Arias blushes at Balt’s compliment.

“W-well, elves should be able to run that fast… But seriously, how is your body built, Balt?”

If it were a world without mana, the continent would have fallen to barbarians long ago.

“I’m just a bit sturdier than most.”

Lisa mutters after hearing this:

“Just a bit… what happens if you’re very sturdy? Oh! Where are my manners! Let me introduce you! Our roommate!!”

It seems to be Lisa’s second roommate.

Light green hair and a slightly sparkling body… Sparkling? What’s that?

Lisa answers that question:

“She’s a fairy! I’m sharing a room with two princesses?”

Lisa seems extremely excited.

But aren’t fairies supposed to be tiny?

“Nice to meet you. I’m Balt Geruntu. You look a bit different from what I expected.”

“Hello!? I’m Lati Tinker! Wow! You have a spirit too!!”

This feels like her character overlaps with Lisa’s.

They say fairy folk are naturally mischievous.

Noum wasn’t recalled even when Balt’s magic was blocked.

If existence alone required magic power, it would be impossible to keep spirits around constantly.

The mana needed for existence seems to be drawn from nature.

“Hmm, so you can see it? As expected of a fairy.”

Balt has some knowledge about races from his gaming experience.

Fairies specialize in magic. Underestimating them for their small size would be a mistake.

But the fairy princess before him, though smaller than Lisa, is still too large for a fairy.

She’s about the size of a 10-year-old child, whereas fairies are typically only as big as an adult man’s fist.

“You seem to know something about fairies! Then you must be wondering why I’m so big? I’m using body transformation magic to make myself larger! Changing body size is a fairy specialty! The interesting thing is that only fairies can learn this skill! Of course, we can’t grow indefinitely! There are limitations! I’m a 5th Circle mage, so this is as big as I can get! When I reach 6th Circle, I might be able to grow bigger! To be as big as you, Balt, I’d probably need to be 10th Circle!?”

Cancel that. I take back what I said about her resembling Lisa.

She’s an incredibly talkative fairy.

They say fairies are chatterboxes, and that’s exactly right.

“I see. 5th Circle? So your magical achievement is 5th Circle?”

Lati puts her hands on her hips, raises her nose proudly, and answers:

“Ahem! That’s right! Not completely 5th Circle, but I’ve stepped into it! Did you know fairies have amazing magical abilities? Of course, without dragon language, 10th Circle is impossible, but my mother is an 8th Circle Arch Mage!? Isn’t that amazing? Physical abilities are too much! Fairies only need to use magic! And also…”

Lisa and Arias won’t be bored, that’s for sure.

“Impressive. I’d like to observe 5th Circle magic someday.”

Despite being so talkative, she’s the strongest student Balt has met so far.

5th Circle magic is something Balt could withstand, but it would still wound him. Plus, as a wizard-class mage, she would have much to teach him.

“Huh? A barbarian interested in magic? Then becoming friends with me, Lati Tinker, is a good choice! As I was saying about us fairies, we’re second only to dragons when it comes to magic…”

She talks a lot, but she’s a cute and lively fairy.

Besides, despite looking so cute and young, she’s probably quite old since fairies live long lives.

“Sure, let’s be friends, Lati.”

At Balt’s words, Lati smiles brightly with a happy face.

“You’re a nice guy! Who said barbarians are scary! This is great! I already have three friends!”

Arias joins the conversation between Lati and Balt:

“B-Balt, have you eaten yet?”

“Hmm? Not yet. I was just about to go get something to eat.”

Thinking this is perfect timing, Arias says to Balt:

“Th-then shall we all go eat together? I have some interesting stories to share.”

That’s fine with Balt. He nods and says:

Besides, he’s curious about what interesting stories Arias has to mention.

“Let’s do that. Is it okay if my roommates join us too?”